Amir Richardson at Le Havre (olf Reims)

Discussion in 'Yanks Abroad' started by SourCream&OnionUtd, Sep 2, 2021.

  1. SourCream&OnionUtd

    Nov 19, 1998
    While looking through France's Ligue 2 today (what, you thought LA Galaxy* were the only ones to do that?), I noticed a 6'5", 19 yo American at Le Havre named Amir Richardson. He's the son of former NBA All-Star PG Micheal Ray Richardson.

    I've searched a few times today for a YA thread about him, but haven't seen his name anywhere, so apologies if the discussion already exists.

    Naturally at that height, you might expect him at CB. But he's currently being used in a midfield three and had his best game yet at Bastia last Saturday.

    *funnily enough, Richardson's pro debut came against current Gal Rayan Raveloson
     
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  2. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Made his Ligue 2 debut in May 2021.
     
  3. Gorky

    Gorky Member+

    Jul 28, 2006
    NYC
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  4. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    @bungadiri @dark knight

    I think it would serve us well to include the name "Richardson" in the thread title.
     
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  5. UniversalAdvice

    Apr 18, 2018
    Uh...

    It’s not everyday YA doesn’t know about a 19 y/o, 6’5 midfielder who has started 5 consecutive games in Ligue 2 and also happens to be the son of a former NBA All-Star.

    He had a recent interview posted on the club's YouTube page if anyone speaks French:

    Just from using the auto-translate feature (which is clearly a very rough translation, to say the least) it seems like he was saying that he wasn't expecting to have a starting spot so soon but had a good preseason. Also, his dad is back in the United States while his mom lives in France. He has a good relationship with his dad despite not seeing him much and they speak daily over the phone, even though he says he doesn't understand soccer that well. Regardless, he gives him good advice about life and the mindset of an athlete.

    Also found this article written shortly after his debut. After a quick free 14-day trial to that website and Google Translate, it seems that even few who follow the club were aware of him before his debut because he went straight from the U19s to his first team appearance without having a professional contract - which he later signed on July 9. He apparently never played for Le Havre II due to the impact of COVID on their season.

    Furthermore, Richardson came from Nice in 2019 due to the recommendation of Le Havre director of recruitment Franck Sale, who knew him for years at Nice. Here's a couple intriguing excerpts from the previously linked article featuring words from Sale and others from the Le Havre staff (Google Translated):

    From Nice to Le Havre, the man behind his arrival is obviously called Franck Sale.

    "Amir arrived in Nice at the same time as I did," recalls the recruiter who spent time on the French Riviera between 2012 and 2017. He was about ten years old. He is a boy that I have always appreciated and that I have always defended during meetings with the trainers from Nice. It was necessary, because its morphology logically generated some physical problems which slowed down its progression. And it is unfortunately difficult to be patient with this kind of profile in training centers..."

    ...

    "His father lives in the United States, but I remember that the day he came to see Amir in Le Havre, he was very affected because Kobe Bryant, whom he had had little on his knees, had just disappeared", says again Franck Sale, who logically did "everything possible" to recover his former protégé in the ocean city. Arrived as an attacking midfielder, the left-hander was quickly repositioned a notch lower. "We use him mainly as a sentinel for our 4-3-3 (system common to youth teams), but he has all the qualities to play torchbearer," said Michael Lebaillif, coach of the reserve after having been that of the U19. "Very comfortable technically, he is able to score goals and give out very good assists," said François Rodrigues, the director of training.


    Also was lauded by the media after his last match:

    Starter for the fifth time in six days, Amir Richardson (19) did not do everything, but nevertheless showed great activity and a real personality on the lawn of Furiani

    Richardson’s activity. Like all of his partners, he didn’t always make the right choices. But what activity! What volume of play, how many raked balls! From match to match, Amir Richardson exhibits an astonishing personality in the game, at only 19 years old.

    Oui, this one is VERY interesting.
     
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  6. kruck

    kruck Member+

    Jan 12, 2008
    Houston, TX
    Club:
    SV Werder Bremen
    Fascinating.
     
  7. felloveranddidanadu

    Plymouth Argyle FC
    Dec 12, 2009
    Club:
    San Jose Frogs
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Any ideas what "sentinel" and "torchbearer" might be as midfield roles? Sentinel = 10 and torchbearer = box-to-box/8? Very cool, regardless
     
  8. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  9. Gorky

    Gorky Member+

    Jul 28, 2006
    NYC
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Sentinel = 6 or defensive. Torchbearer= something with more offense?
     
  10. UniversalAdvice

    Apr 18, 2018
    Looked up the original terms in the article... score one to each of you haha:
    -sentinelle/milieu défensifs (sentinel) = 6
    -milieu relayeur (torchbearer) = 8
     
  11. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Michael Ray Richardson…there’s a name I haven’t heard for a while.

    I hope to Christ Amir has a better handle on off court/pitch matters than his father.
     
  12. EXALIFTIN

    EXALIFTIN Member+

    Nov 23, 2010
    Club:
    Fulham FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    starts today, 6'5 central midfielder, fascinating. @dark knight @bungadiri can we move this thread to the academy forum? and maybe a title change to Amir Richardson at Le Havre
     
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  13. Dave Marino-Nachison

    Jun 9, 1999
    He looks like a natural lefty in these highlights.



    He's usually in the attacking half or near midfield, but at one point he drops almost all the way back between the CBs to collect the ball.
     
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  14. nycfc919

    nycfc919 Member+

    Aug 17, 2015
    Crazy how under the radar this kid is. Also insane that it seems like Michael Ray just got booted from the NBA for drugs and then went to Europe, where he eventually sires a towering dual nat midfielder.
     
  15. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
    It's amazing how long his career was.

    Dude was drafted in 1978 and after eight NBA seasons and one CBA season, he was went to Europe and played for fifteen more seasons before retiring in 2002 when he was... 47!

    Put another way, he started his career midway through Jimmy Carter's presidency and finished midway through the SECOND George Bush's first term.

    Amir was born just before he stopped playing.
     
  16. bshredder

    bshredder BigSoccer Supporter

    Feb 23, 1999
    Club:
    Millwall FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    crazier that’s happened 2x. Howard Carter speaks openly about his drug problems (which forced him out of the NBA) to warn young people through his choices. He produced a good American centerback
     
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  17. EXALIFTIN

    EXALIFTIN Member+

    Nov 23, 2010
    Club:
    Fulham FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Went the full 90 ended 1-1
     
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  18. Dave Marino-Nachison

    Jun 9, 1999
    Shame Jellybean Bryant's kid didn't stick with soccer.
     
  19. Gorky

    Gorky Member+

    Jul 28, 2006
    NYC
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Dd Le Havre rebrand?
     
  20. nycfc919

    nycfc919 Member+

    Aug 17, 2015
    Imagine the scenes if they both end up on a NT roster together…
     
  21. FirstStar

    FirstStar Hustlin' for the USA

    Fulham Football Club
    Feb 1, 2005
    Time's Arrow
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    CAP HIM NOW!!! Ha. I win.
     
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  22. Dave Marino-Nachison

    Jun 9, 1999
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  23. EXALIFTIN

    EXALIFTIN Member+

    Nov 23, 2010
    Club:
    Fulham FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Not in the squad for today’s match, some digging brings up this https://www.footnormand.fr/actualites/le-havre-ac/de-toulouse-nancy-la-drole-de-semaine-du-

    the arrest of Amir Richardson for having driven without a driver's license

    Amir Richardson has been one of the revelations of the HAC since the start of the championship. But on Tuesday, it was outside the green rectangle that the midfielder (19 years old) signaled himself in a way he should have avoided. As revealed by L'Equipe , the n ° 24 of “Ciel et Marine” was checked at the wheel of a car even though he does not have a driving license! "Amir is an intelligent boy who committed a big mistake. I hope he will learn the lesson" , loose Paul le Guen. We saw each other in my office, of course he apologized . " However, the management of the Norman club suspended him for a match. "He will become a candidate again at the beginning of next week. “ :oops:
     
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  24. kruck

    kruck Member+

    Jan 12, 2008
    Houston, TX
    Club:
    SV Werder Bremen
    Cool. Young kid makes a mistake and serves a punishment. All is right with the world. I look forward to following his progress this season.
     
  25. Dave Marino-Nachison

    Jun 9, 1999
    For those wondering, it appears the driving age in France is 18, so he's old enough -- just doesn't have a license, for whatever reason. This has me worried about getting him for the USMNT, because what could be less American than being 19 without a drivers license? ;)
     

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